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New Mexico, MSFT settle
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July 12, 2001: 7:00 p.m. ET
New Mexico settles claims with Microsoft, drops out of antitrust case
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NEW YORK (CNNfn) - New Mexico became the first state to resolve antitrust charges against Microsoft Thursday, with the software company agreeing to pay the state's attorney fees and costs.
As part of the settlement, New Mexico Attorney General Patricia Madrid said in a statement her state will still share in the final result of the four-year antitrust lawsuit, led by the U.S Department of Justice. Seventeen states still remain in the case.
On Wednesday Microsoft signaled its willingness to settle its antitrust case with the government, announcing it will give PC manufacturers more flexibility in configuring desktop versions of its Windows operating system.
"I was encouraged that Microsoft made some concessions yesterday, that was a very good first step," Madrid said in an interview with The Associated Press.
But Connecticut State Attorney General Richard Blumenthal, who said he is open to the idea of a settlement of the antitrust case but so far the two sides have not held any discussions, characterized the move as "closing the barn door after everything is out."
Company spokesman Vivek Varma said Microsoft "was pleased to have this matter resolved." Varma added that Microsoft was committed to working with other government officials to resolve the remaining issues in the case.
Serving state interests
"My job is to do what I think best serves the interests of New Mexico consumers and businesses," Madrid said in a statement.
She also said the matter is "now ripe for a speedy resolution" with hope that "the decision to have New Mexico settle its case with Microsoft will help open the way for the remaining parties to pursue realistic settlement terms."
On June 28 a federal appeals court overturned a lower court's ruling that Microsoft be broken into two companies as a remedy for anticompetitive practices.
Shares of Microsoft rose 40 cents after hours to $72. 
-- from staff and wire reports
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